Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, expressed disappointment on Monday over Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision not to attend the Al Smith Dinner, a key event traditionally attended by presidential candidates. Dolan observed that it had been 40 years since a contender previously refused an invitation, noting former Vice President Walter Mondale, who lost 49 out of 50 states in the 1984 presidential election.
"We're disappointed," Dolan stated, highlighting the event's importance in promoting harmony and minimizing political polarization. "We were looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome," he continued, stressing Harris' frequent advocacy for concepts like as unity and overcoming differences, which coincide with the spirit of the event.
MUST WATCH: Cardinal Dolan mocks Kamala Harris for skipping the Al Smith Dinner."This hasn’t happened in 40 years since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states…” pic.twitter.com/qBaTymSBFO
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The Al Smith Dinner, named after former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith, is a high-profile annual fundraiser for Catholic charities. It is known for bringing together political figures from both parties to set aside differences in a light-hearted, non-partisan atmosphere. The dinner is traditionally seen as a must-attend event for presidential campaigns, providing a platform for candidates to engage in good-natured banter and showcase their personalities outside the usual campaign trail settings.
Dolan mentioned that Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have been actively encouraging Harris to reconsider her decision. According to Dolan, Schumer speculated that the decision might not have been made by Harris herself but possibly by her scheduler. “I don’t think she made the decision; I think her scheduler was saying she can’t make it,” Schumer reportedly told Dolan. The archbishop noted that both Schumer and Hochul have been "working hard" to persuade Harris to attend, underscoring the event’s significance and the desire to uphold its tradition.
Dolan said that they "haven't given up yet" and expressed optimism that Harris would still attend despite the setback. He underlined how special the circumstances are, noting that since Mondale's withdrawal forty years ago, no contender has turned down the offer. Dolan said, "We're not used to this," referring to how uncommon it is for a prominent political figure to make a choice of this nature.
The Al Smith Dinner serves as an important point in the political calendar, with its blend of comedy and charity generally perceived as a uniting event within the sometimes polarized political scene. Dolan's comments emphasized the dissatisfaction felt by the event's organizers and supporters, who saw the dinner as a vital chance for political leaders to show unity and shared ideals that cut across party lines.